SIFF Report 1June-3June--CUBE OF SUGAR, BEASTS SOUTHERN WILD, STARBUCKS

SIFF is in full and frantic swing as we head into the final week  This past weekend was pretty strong.  Here's what played that I saw.


From Iran, A CUBE OF SUGAR may be the most unusual film from that country to play the west.  Dozens of guests come to stay the weekend for the wedding of a young relative and her (as yet) absent groom in the military.  The atmosphere is happy, celebratory, loopy, hopeful--and there are so many people coming into the house that it is difficult for the viewer to be certain exactly who is who.  About half way through the film, ironic tragedy strikes one guest, and suddenly the mood becomes, obviously, more subdued and sorrowful, and yet the film, possibly seen as a metaphor for the country's history (past and future) remains beautifully hopeful.          GRADE----------A-

I wrote about the French Canadian STARBUCK and THE BRITISH GUIDE TO SHOWING OFF back in October when I saw them at the Vancouver International Film Festival.  They are both extremely likable and funny.       GRADE for each-------------B+

Powerful and very unique, THE BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD is filmed in the delta region of Louisiana and features mostly local people as it tells the story of a catastrophic hurricane devastating the dirt poor folks who must scrap and fight for every meal.  (Hurricane Katrina is never named, but it is likely that this could be a personal story of that incident.)  A driving force in the story is the dynamic relationship between an indigent father and his scrappy, resourceful, motherless young daughter---maybe near age 7, who manages to hold her own against the fierce elements and her drunken, desperate father (who is probably the only "professional" in the cast.)  My biggest complaint is the nature of the film making itself.  The camera work is aggressively hand held and becomes nauseating when viewed from up close which was where I ended up at the sold out screening.  Still, I admired the concept and creativity the first time film-maker--a true tour-de-force of the human spirit.     GRADE------B+

Smartly written and acted, this small film about two teens falling in love for THE FIRST TIME manages to escape the vulgarities of the usual teen comedy (like gross out jokes and crude sex talk, etc) to become very thoughtful and realistic in depicting  first time sex.   GRADE------B+

Beautifully filmed from the Gothic classic novel, THE MONK creates almost an other-worldly milieu where a pious monk becomes unknowingly tempted by evil in an insidious manner.  Moody and fascinating and (for its time) lurid.       GRADE-------B+

Made in Brazil, the mostly true story XINGU tells of  three brothers who struggle to protect the indigenous rights of the Indians from progress, military and commercialism.  The epic-lite film gallops through the decades, and at times seems to gloss over the drama, but it's an earnest and interesting story.    GRADE---- B

Modern Turkish society is on view in story of an unwanted child called C A N.  The film leaves some lingering questions, but the actors and story are compelling.      GRADE-----B

Well filmed and acted Swedish film THE CROWN JEWELS has some unusual plot twists that at times are rather astonishing (in both good and bad ways), but it is not dull.  An older teen girl accused of murder retells her story in flashback .  The film is curiously likable.   GRADE-----B

From South Korea comes MIRAGE---an unusual film which flashed back and forth in time to relate the friendship of two school mates.   They are both fascinated by science fiction and worm holes, but the film takes you to places you had no idea you were going to.   Interesting.     GRADE-----B-

Odd film-noir from 1946, THE CHASE has been restored, and it was entertaining if rather bizarre.  Robert Cummings plays an ex-soldier with mental problems who becomes involved with his gangster bosses wife--fleeing with her to Cuba.  There's a major plot twist  midway that left viewers scratching their heads, and the ending doesn't seem as happily resolved as the characters would have us believe.       GRADE------B-

US independent comic film about a ball-busting new manager who barges her way into the lives of her co-workers, PRICE CHECK is nothing without the amazing queen of indie films herself--Parker Posey.  The film feels much like TV's THE OFFICE, but focuses on the relationship the manager forces into between her newly promoted assistant (Eric Mabius) and his wife and child.   Posey makes it fun, but there's nothing new here.     GRADE---------C+

Mincing, cringe-inducing film from Philippines, REMINGTON AND THE CURSE OF THE ZOMBADINGS could have been a campy treat, but instead, this film of a gaydar gun that kills closeted gays and turns them into zombies is sloppy and chock full of the worst stereotypes.     GRADE-------D